Welcome to the next in a series celebrating female colleagues who engage with theatre as critics, reviewers, bloggers or content creators. I am using ‘theatre’ to encompass all live arts performances, and ‘reviewer’ to cover all those who add commentary on what they see.
The master list is at: https://loureviews.blog/spotlight-on-female-theatre-reviewers-bloggers-critics-and-content-creators/
If you would like to be profiled as part of this project, please get in touch.
Today, I turn my attention to Kerrie at Wheelie Stagey.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be writing or creating content about theatre?
I’m Kerrie, 35, I’m from Bristol. I have my own copywriting and content creation business Curtain Call Consultancy, and I run Wheelie Stagey, my theatre blog and podcast in my spare time. I always loved to write, but it took a while for me to answer the old “about what” question when I was thinking about how I could make something out of the one thing I feel I’m good at. I saw my first West End show in 2011, and I’ve never looked back.
If you have your own platform, when did it start and how did you come up with the name?
I rebranded my WordPress site to “Wheelie Stagey” in 2018 – a tongue-in-cheek reference to my disability and the fact that I use a wheelchair, combined with “Stagey” for that theatrical nod.
What kind of shows do you cover, and in which geographical areas?
All types of shows are welcome, but I tend to gravitate towards musicals and plays with a smattering of dance. I cover my home turf in Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and London, assuming we can make logistics work for the latter.
How would you describe yourself (reviewer, critic, content creator, YouTuber, influencer, other?).
I always struggle with this definition for myself – I’m first and foremost a reviewer, but I also have a podcast too, so I feel like I’m teetering on content creator, maybe? – I don’t know… haha!
Why do you continue to engage with theatre?
Theatre has given me friendships and relationships that have shaped my life for the better in many ways. As a disabled person, it’s also given me a sense of joy and purpose that I often struggle to find in other areas of my life.
What’s the one thing that would make the theatre reviewing/content-creating space easier for you personally, and/or for your platform?
Now, this might seem a bit hypocritical and counterintuitive given my answer to your previous question, but I’ll try to explain. Though this industry fills my soul and brings me so much joy, I also marvel at its capacity to make me feel, to put it mildly, rubbish about myself. I regularly decline opportunities that could be great for my platform because the spaces aren’t accessible or are evening-only, and I have to work within the limitations of my circumstances; I’d appreciate more flexibility and understanding around that. It can feel, at least in my experience, incredibly isolating and unwelcoming as an industry sometimes! That being said, we all know change doesn’t happen overnight, and there are amazing individuals, companies and organisations doing remarkable work to change the industry and make it more inclusive and representative.
Do you have a favourite show – and any you particularly dislike(d)?
Jason Robert Brown & Stephen Sondheim are my favourite composers, closely followed by Rodgers & Hammerstein, so any opportunity I have to see their works lights me up, and I consider works of theirs my favourites – The Bridges of Madison County, Sunday in the Park With George and Carousel, specifically.
If we’re talking away from those three, I’d also throw Hadestown, The Lion King, Les Misérables, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doctor Zhivago and Bright Star in the mix, at least for musicals… I’m also a Shakespeare enthusiast! In terms of shows I haven’t especially gelled with, suffice to say there is a certain director whose work hasn’t always been my bag, and I feel in the minority there.
The theatre commentary space is wide and diverse – is there any other female reviewer/content creator you would recommend, and why?
I’m a big fan of Ellie Talks Theatre, and Theatre & Tonic. I love their energy, enthusiasm, and love for this awesome art form that is theatre!
What’s the biggest change you have noticed in the theatre space since you started contributing to it?
That’s an interesting question! I think, even though I often feel like I don’t belong, it’s been lovely to see the dialogue around what “critics”/reviewers, etc., should be changing, and the space being willing to embrace those with smaller reach and things like that. As ever, there is work still to be done, but it’s heading in the right direction.
And which social networks are you most active on? If you are not on any, what is your opinion of their place in theatre reviewing/content creation?
I have X, Facebook & Instagram, and am definitely most active on the latter two!
Can you pinpoint one of your best reviews, features, or videos?
“Best” is subjective, so I’m going to point you in the direction of two pieces I’m most proud of. This first one is a BroadwayWorldUK interview I did with Nick Butcher, Tom Ling and Joe White, the creative team behind The Little Big Things. That show was a huge deal for me in terms of representation; it meant a great deal to be asked if I would cover the interview for the team. https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Interview-We-Want-This-Show-to-Be-a-Beacon-for-Change-Tom-Ling-Nick-Butcher-Joe-White-Talk-Representation-Collaboration-and-Joy-in-THE-LITTLE-BIG-THINGS-20230912
In terms of my own content – this one might be a bit of a cheat as it’s not a review and I’m not sure it would count as a feature, but after I saw my first Matthew Bourne in my “official” capacity for BroadwayWorldUK, I wrote an open letter type piece to New Adventures/Sir Matthew/my cast of the piece, just… thanking them for the experience and being quite open & vulnerable in a way I hadn’t before. It ended up being seen by one of the principal dancers, and he sent me the sweetest message in reply. I was so touched by that.
How can people contact you who want to promote a show?
Head on over to www.wheeliestagey.co.uk, you’ll find all my social handles & contact details there!
Thanks, Kerrie!